Spartak Moscow midfielder Daniil Prutsev has publicly identified Lionel Messi as his preferred candidate for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, departing from the official result that saw Harry Kane claim the trophy. In an exclusive interview with Euro-Football.ru, the Russian international expressed his preference regarding the outcome of the annual award, which is presented by the French magazine France Football.

Prutsev’s Preference for Messi Over Kane

While acknowledging the achievement of the Bayern Munich and England striker, Prutsev stated that he would have cast his vote for the Inter Miami forward had he been involved in the selection process. “He [Kane] is doing well, but I don’t even know who is better to choose. I would probably vote for Messi,” Prutsev told Euro-Football.ru.

The 2026 Ballon d’Or cycle was heavily influenced by the FIFA World Cup, where Messi’s Argentina reached the final. Messi recorded eight goals during the tournament, finishing second in the scoring charts behind Kylian Mbappé, who netted ten. The final itself saw Spain defeat Argentina 1-0 following an extra-time goal from Barcelona’s Ferran Torres.

Assessment of Safonov’s Performance

During the same interview, Prutsev also addressed the recognition of Russian goalkeeper Matvey Safonov, who finished fourth in the voting for the “Golden Glove” award. Prutsev suggested that the goalkeeper’s placement did not fully reflect his contributions on the pitch. “He could have been higher,” Prutsev noted. “In any case, for a Russian goalkeeper, this is a decent result. He should definitely have been in the top three.”

National Team Commitments Under Karpin

The conversation shifted to Prutsev’s role within the Russian national team, as he remains in Valery Karpin’s expanded squad for the November training camp. When asked whether he uses these international windows to mentally reset from the pressures of his club career at Spartak, Prutsev emphasized a professional approach. “In the national team, I cannot rest because I am going there to represent it, to play for it,” he said.

The Ballon d’Or, which has been awarded annually since 1956, remains the most significant individual honor in professional football. Lionel Messi currently holds the record for the most wins in the history of the award, having secured the trophy eight times throughout his career.

Prutsev is expected to report for the upcoming national team assembly as Russia prepares for its next international fixtures. The midfielder remains focused on his domestic campaign with Spartak Moscow before transitioning to duties under Karpin.